Heart לֵב

We will look at one last word from Genesis chapter 6 as our word for today. לֵב heart, inner self. It is used 591 times in the Old Testament. A good example of what this word means is in Genesis 31:20 And Jacob tricked Laban … by not telling him that he לֵב intended to flee. The version doesn’t even translate the word heart because the word intended is synonymous with what the heart means. We tend to say our intention or say what is in our heart with the same meaning. We understand that the heart involves not just emotions but rational thought and its application. A good example of this is where God was going to give Solomon his wisdom. 1 Kings 3:12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning לֵב heart, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. The best example of this concept is with the New Testament Greek word used to describe what Mary does with her heart. She shows that it is a storage container for a person’s thoughts and feelings. We see this in Luke chapter two when she ponders and treasures up what was said about her son Jesus and what Jesus said to her when he was older. Now let’s look at both times לֵב is used in Genesis chapter six. Genesis 6:5-6 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his לֵב heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his לֵב heart. This is quite a contrast when you think about it. The very people he created store up their thoughts and emotions about what? Evil. And at this time they did this all the time. God is storing up thoughts and emotions of pain? Why because he loves us and is hurt by our rejection of him. God knows the worst thing for any of us is to sin against him and reject his direction and life for us. God warns us repeatedly of this in his word. Proverbs 1:17-19 “How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.” Evil not only corrupts us but those around us are also affected. Proverbs 25:26 says this well, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.” God’s grieving over what sin does to us is clearly seen in Jesus’ words to the Pharisees and his weeping while looking over the city. Matthew 23:27 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” Luke 19:41-42 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”